Guardian Angel

Chapter 1

Jesse Gillespie

I love Friday nights at Howard's Bar. My small town gets plenty of interstate travelers staying at the historic hotel located just behind the bar, and more than a few of them are lonely women looking for someone who'll soothe their loneliness for a night or two. I consider it my personal mission to make sure these women feel welcome and entertained during their short stay in Spring Valley.

However, this Friday night isn't giving me the results I'd hoped for when I left work today. I flirted with a blonde for a little while after I got here, but she kept me at arm's length and laughed at me like she thought I was funny or cute. She even called me cute and said my hair made her think of Mufasa in that Disney movie. My boss and best friend Bill chuckled at me because he told me not to go for that one. I figured it was because he wanted her for himself since he prefers blondes.

Bill and I get along great except when it comes to women. We tried playing the wingman thing, but we discovered that I have ... a bit of a jealous streak. So, I work alone when I decide I want a little female companionship. I don't want to get in a fight with my best friend, certainly not over some chick.

I look up at the clock on the wooden slats that make up the wall near the front door. For a few seconds, a dancing couple get in my view of it since the dance floor is right there. Ten o'clock, I think when I see what it says and feel disgusted with myself and my lack of luck so far tonight. I stare down at the wooden floorboards and think about my failure with that blonde, and I wonder if I should leave and go home, hoping for better luck tomorrow.

I lean back to stretch in my corner chair and debate what I should do as I absently run my fingers through my wild mane of shoulder-length hair. Mufasa. Huh, I think with a miffed internal voice. Then I see the door open. Again, a few dancing couples get in my way, making it so I can't see who comes in. I don't suppose it matters anyway. I'm going home.

As I stand up and reach back behind me for my billfold, I see an unusual shade of red hair in my peripheral vision, and I turn my head to look.

Hello, I think as I return my wallet to the back pocket of my jeans and sit back down. Maybe tonight won't be a loss after all.

I watch the newcomer as she sits down at the bar near Eddie and Joe, and the two older men invite her to join their conversation almost immediately. I'm so glad she sat at the far side of the bar because that means she's facing me while I debate my first move.

A goddess has blessed us with her presence in Spring Valley, and I study her features with an experienced eye. Her red eyebrows stand out on her pale face, and her innocent-looking, deep blue eyes make it hard for me to stay in my seat and not act like an idiot barging in on her while she eats her dinner. I don't want to interrupt. Not yet.

I sit here, entertained, as I watch her full lips talk and smile, and when she smiles widely, her little nose scrunches up in the most adorable way. She reaches up to tuck her hair behind her ear before she suddenly looks around, almost as if she can feel me watching her. I quickly look down at the table in front of me and casually pick at the wrapping on my mostly-empty beer bottle. Normally, I'd purposefully catch the woman's eye if she'd feel me staring at her, but I meant it when I decided to not intrude on her until after she's finished eating. I can still see her in my peripheral vision, and the way I've already memorized her face allows me to continue to admire her.

I have to have her.

One night. I'll have one night before this goddess disappears, I think and wish I had more time. Wait! She's getting up to leave!

You're not leaving yet, are you? Please, tell me you're not going to leave just because you're finished eating, I say to her retreating form after I hop up out of my chair and try to catch her before she can make it out the door.

She slowly turns around to look up at me with a questioning expression. I'm sure to smile warmly down at her. She's little. The top of her head probably only reaches my chin.

Don't leave.

Can I possibly convince you to stay, at least for a dance or something? I ask since she hasn't said anything.

No one's asked me to dance, she replies obstinately in a voice as pretty as her face. She sounds like she's testing me, wondering what I'm going to make of that.

Then let me be more direct and ask you. Would you like to dance? There. Now you can't say no one's asked you, I think with a humorous grin spreading across my face.

I'm not much of a dancer, she replies, looking a little uncomfortable. I don't know if it's me or dancing in general that makes her act that way. I start to wonder if she might want to learn. That could be fun.

Well, I can teach you if you like, I offer. Just don't leave. Hoping that I can get a yes out of her, I hold out my hand for her to take. She does nothing but wordlessly stare at it.

Damn it! I can't let her get away, and she looks like she wants to bolt.

I quickly decide to change my tactic.

Please? I ask, being sure to look a little pitiful. I think it works because the uncomfortable, mistrusting look in her eyes leaves and gets replaced by a more pleasant one.

Well, since you asked nicely. Yes! I suppose I can. I'm warning you; I really have no idea what I'm doing, she says with a small smile as she puts her tiny hand in mine, and I quickly close my fingers around it.

Nothing I can't handle, I say smoothly as I spin her once and pull her closer to me than necessary. She acts a little thrown by what I did, and she looks down at the floor nervously.

Curious, I lean over to the side to better see her, and she takes a tiny step back that I go ahead and allow. She needs to be distracted from being nervous, so I talk about the first thing that crosses my mind, mentioning how I like her sweater. It's not a lie. It's really soft, and I want to run my hands all over her - I mean it.

She goes on to mention in a rambling way how she likes it because that means she can make short trips to and from her car without needing her coat. Then she looks like she mentally berates herself for rambling. I didn't mind it because that meant I got to watch her mouth up close.

It's soft, I go ahead and tell her while I wonder how soft the skin under the sweater is. Compliment. She needs one, I think rapidly. And the blue in it matches your eyes. Her blue meets my green, and I smile a little before she can look away.

This is great. I'll have this woman eating out of the palm of my hand in no time.

My name's Jesse, by the way, I tell her, wanting to learn her name.

Annie, she says to me in a voice that's almost too quiet to hear. Then, to my delight, I see a blush trying to creep up onto her cheeks. I'm dying to know what that's all about, and I plan on finding out sooner rather than later even if I don't plan on asking her right away. There'll be plenty of time for that later tonight.

I suppose I'd better get with the dancing lesson, I think and start teaching her what I know. She meant it when she said she had no idea what she was doing, and that makes me curious why that is. While I teach her, I also make a little small talk, learning more about her and trying to indirectly figure out what method I should use to get her to take me back to her hotel room. Then she surprises me.

She just moved here today! I can't believe my luck! There I was wishing that I could have more than just one night, and I find out that she's new in town. Oh, this is perfect!

I decide to back off a bit and have a little more fun with this one. I want to give her the illusion that I want to date her because in 'dating' her I can get with her multiple times, and I'm going to need multiple nights. And I suppose I can put off finding out why she blushed until later, not that I don't have an idea already - she wants me.

Annie Carter

Jesse gives me a genuine smile after I tell him I just moved to Spring Valley today. I like the smile on his face now better than the grin he had earlier. That grin made me wonder what was really going on behind those mischievous hazel-green eyes.

My first impression of him made me think he was a little cocky but adorable. Then, when he pulled me right up to him, I couldn't help but think, Whoa! Why did I think adorable a moment ago? Adorable implies something like a cute, little puppy. There is nothing 'little' about this man! The top of my head barely reaches his chin. You could probably fit two of me inside of him, and he's solid muscle!

Since you're new here, do you have a job yet? he asks me, and I get the feeling he's trying to keep up the small talk we had going while he tried to teach me to dance. I think getting me to learn how to dance is a hopeless cause. My ex didn't like to dance unless it was a slow song, and then we'd only sway back and forth.

Yes, at Box O'Books. I start on Monday, I answer him simply. I'm looking forward to having a less-complicated life than what I left, and I think I can find it in this small town.

Before moving here, I thought I had my life figured out. I had a plan: get a college degree, marry the perfect guy, and live happily ever after with a perfect marriage and beautiful children. Unfortunately, I found out late in the game that I went after a degree I didn't really want, and the 'perfect guy' turned out to be a world-class prick. What else could I do but decide to start over?

I had to move. I had to get away from him. I let him define a part of me, and once I severed off that part of myself that was the 'Annie' of 'Drew and Annie,' I didn't know what I should put in its place. I needed to figure out how to fill this hole in my life without anyone else's help, and I hoped that moving to a new town would help me accomplish that.

"Well, since it's Friday night, are you free tomorrow?" Jesse asks with a hopeful gleam in his eyes.

He just asked me out! I think in mute shock.

In my twenty-two years, I've had only one serious boyfriend: Drew Laramie. Our parents were friends for years, and they continually tried to pair the two of us up. During our middle school years, it really got on our nerves; however, things changed just before our first year in high school when my dad tried again to set up the two of us. He got us in his office by separately telling us to do a bogus errand, and while we were in there alone together, Drew kissed me. After that, we became a couple. We broke up a few times, often over something pointless, but we always got back together.

Um … I stall. I don't exactly have any plans ...

Plans.

I planned on helping Drew with his father's company when he would take it over, so the two of us went to college to get our business degrees. My grades during high school were better, so I went to our preferred college while he went to another one for two years. During those two years, we broke up, and I casually dated a few other guys. I never took any of them seriously. Then, Drew transferred into the same college, and we started dating again… until he cheated on me.

We were renting an apartment together very near the college campus, and one weekend, he thought I went to visit my parents. I'd decided not to at the last minute, and I came home to surprise him when I received the worst kind of surprise. I found him in our bed with some sorority slut.

So, is that a 'yes' or a 'no'? Jesse asks with his eyebrows raised as he looms over me, bringing my mind back to the present. The woodsy smell of him drifts over to me, reminding me of when my dad would take me camping when I was little. Blending perfectly with that is a hint of an intoxicatingly distracting cologne.

I force myself to focus as I have to ask him, You mean like a date or something? I try to keep from fidgeting as I wait for his answer.

Yes, Annie, that's exactly what I mean, he answers me with a humorous glint in his eyes before his face breaks out into a wider grin.

A date? With him? I think frantically, and I imagine the two of us out together. He's gorgeous, I finally admit to myself. So far, I've done my best to ignore that fact. So … no. No, I can't do that yet, I decide, remembering my need to figure out that missing part of myself.

Jesse, you're really great, and I had loads of fun learning to dance, but I don't want to date anyone right now, I say in as nice a way as I can manage.

Oh, he says and gets a thoughtful expression on his still-smiling face. Well, it doesn't have to be a date. We could just go hang out or something. I could show you everything in your new town if you'd like, he grins that grin down at me like he thinks he's a genius. Again, there's also something a little playfully devious about that grin that makes me wonder what he's thinking.

I don't know… I let my statement hang.

Why can't we just hang out? he sincerely adds like it's no big deal even though traces of that grin remain in his eyes.

Maybe Sunday, I offer.

What's wrong with tomorrow? he asks.

What's wrong with Sunday? I counter.

Because you said you had no plans for tomorrow, he reminds me with a more serious look. He casually folds his arms and waits for me to respond to his earlier question.

I … might be too tired from unpacking, I lie. I hate myself for lying. I honestly don't know why I decided I don't want to go hang out with him tomorrow. All I know is that right now he's making me incredibly nervous.

Oh, okay. I guess that makes sense, he says, buying my lie. He asks me for my phone number, and I give it to him. I can't help but feel like I'm giving him a consolation prize as the bartender starts to close up the bar.

Driving home with a smile on my face, I think about meeting Jesse tonight. I was a little surprised when he asked me out, but I also can't help but feel flattered as well. I'm happy he didn't push the whole dating thing and that he doesn't have anything against us just being friends.

And I'll get to see him again day after tomorrow, I think as I pull in my driveway.

I love my cute little house. I'm renting it, and it's in a clean neighborhood filled with other small houses with fences of various sorts around their backyards. I love my house's simple layout. When I walk in the front door, I'm in a main room that has the living room, small dining area, and a little kitchen that juts a little further back into the house. Past the living room, I have a decent-sized bedroom with a bathroom beside it. The bathroom has entrances from both the bedroom and the kitchen, making it possible to go in circles around the center of the house, something I used to love to do as a child.

I'm not picky about how the house is decorated. To keep from having to buy all new furniture or bring some things from my parents' house, I decide to pay a little extra to rent what's already in it.

My lie to Jesse about having to unpack haunts me as I spend most of the next day watching television in my living room. I finished all my unpacking in a matter of hours when I got here yesterday, so I obviously don't have anymore to do today. I didn't bring a bunch of stuff from my parents' house, just some clothes, jewelry, makeup, and pictures of my parents and me. I don't need much else, certainly not reminders of my past with Drew hanging around as I try to dictate my own future.

By the time late afternoon arrives, I'm really getting sick of terrible TV shows.

A guy on the show I'm watching says a lame joke, and I groan. Then my phone rings on the coffee table in front of me.

Mom, I think resolutely, knowing she probably wants to talk my ear off, asking question after question about my safety, whether or not I'm eating right, etc, even though I've only been here a day.

I don't recognize the number.

Hello? I ask, wondering who it is. There's a lot of background noise, whoever it is.

Annie?

Yes, speaking. Who is this?

"You've forgotten me already? That's a shame since I've been thinking about you all day." the man says.

Jesse? I ask, guessing.

"Yay! So you do remember me! That's good," he says the last sentence like a silly sigh of relief.

I swallow back a laugh because he sounds a tiny bit drunk.

Listen. I'm down here at Howard's if you're tired of unpacking and looking for something to do, he offers.

I swear I can hear him smiling as I picture him in my mind sitting at one of the small tables towards the back of the bar.

How did he guess I was bored? And he called the next day?! I think happily, ignoring the butterflies in my stomach. I attribute my happy feeling to laughing at him because he sounds a little bit drunk. Also, going to Howard's would be more entertaining than watching lame television shows.

Annie? he asks like he wonders if I hung up.

Um. Well, okay. There's nothing decent on television anyway, I finally answer, forgetting I was supposed to be tired and bored from unpacking. Then I hang up, turn off the television, and go change my clothes into something suitable.

I really like Jesse. I hope meeting him is a good sign that I made the right decision to move here.

Chapter 2

Jesse

I hang up with the new girl Annie with a huge, pleased-with-myself grin on my face. She's coming!

She's got a job at Box O'Books, the town's one and only bookstore. I know the manager, Ella Peterson, and the owner, her father. I was too distracted last night to point this out to Annie.

I met Ella soon after I moved here from Morganton. Bill introduced me to her. I couldn't help but think that she embodied the bubbly blonde stereotype. Oh, not that I minded. I thought it was great as I quickly took stock of her tight ass and great rack. However, I soon caught on that Bill had a real thing for her, so I steered clear.

I do a silent laugh and shake my head when I look over at Bill where he sits flirting ridiculously with some woman at the bar. He'd rather flirt with other women than admit he likes Ella. I guess I don't blame him much because I don't want to tie myself down to one woman either, and if he admits to Ella that he likes her, that'd be the end of him flirting with other women because I have a feeling that Ella has a thing for him too. He doesn't need to do that. Life's too short to be permanently shackled to one woman.

I smile as I think about the new girl Annie. I asked her out last night, and we have a date tomorrow. Wait! … It's not technically a date. She fed me the 'I'm not looking for a relationship' spiel, but she did at least agree to something. It was a start, and I mentally rubbed my hands together as I considered how this chase would go.

And now she's on her way here.

I watch the door from where I sit at my table in the back corner for what feels like ages while I slowly drink my beer. I start wondering when she'll show up. While I do this, I try to not make it obvious that I'm watching the door by looking around lazily and occasionally picking at the wrapping around my beer bottle. I start to give up, and the door opens for the red-haired goddess to enter the bar.

She's wearing a loose purple sweater. The collar of it is so wide that it sneaks over to the side, wanting to fall off her shoulder. I watch as she absentmindedly adjusts it, and the collar dips down her front enough to show the tops of her breasts. Nice.

She hasn't seen me yet, so I sit at my table and continue to admire her when some jerk grabs her and starts dancing with her right away. He never bothers to ask her if she'd like to dance from what I can tell. I wait a few seconds to see what she'll do. I don't really know her, but I doubt she likes that sort of thing.

My suspicions get confirmed when I see her shake her head and try unsuccessfully to spin out of his clutches. I stand up and make my way over to the pair, not recognizing the out-of-towner. The guy has greasy, slicked-back hair that's probably brown when it's clean, and the button-down shirt he's wearing looks like it needs replacing.

I said no thank you, she states firmly as I get closer.

Aw, c'mon, baby. I'm shure whoever yer meetin' here can wait jus' a little longer while you dance wid me. the guy says in a very drunk voice. Annie looks incredibly uncomfortable, and that triggers a protective feeling in me.

I think I've waited long enough, thank you, I say, trying to not also act possessive and mostly failing. I know this doesn't count as a date, but she did agree to meet me here.

You can wait one dance, can' you? the dipshit says as he wraps his arms around her waist and playfully rocks her back and forth like he's dangling her in front of me. I'm suddenly furious.

She rams the heel of her boot down on the hard toes of his boots and snaps, How dare you keep holding onto me like this after I tried to politely say no! I'm telling you for the last time to let go of me! She screams the last four words loudly, drawing a few curious glances.

Anything we can help you with, Jesse? Bill asks me with a few of our coworkers standing nearby.

I love this town. A man always has good backup when he might need it ... even if I don't need it.

Nope. Don't think so anyway because this man was about to leave, weren't you? I answer them and direct the question to the pig that still has Annie.

Seeing now four of us standing here staring at him, the sonofabitch finally releases her. I guess he figured she wasn't worth fighting four loggers over.

Yeah, I was jus' leavin.' This town sucks for ennertainment, he snarls.

Don't stumble on the way out, Bill says to his retreating back, having fun with that old saying. Then he mumbles about hoping the mofo is staying at the hotel and not getting back into his car.

Annie still looks like she's burning with rage when she barks, I need a drink! Something cold.

A few of us, myself included, laugh at her expression.

C'mon, Annie, let me buy you something, I offer with a smile and take her hand to lead her to the bar.

Don't touch me! she whips out at me and snatches her hand back.

Okay, I say calmly like I'm dealing with a wild animal. Nobody's touching anybody. I turn to my friends and ask, Bill? Steve? You touching anybody?

Nope. Not touching nobody, Steve answers, quickly putting his hands up in a surrender gesture. I don't like the appraising look he has in his eyes as he looks at Annie.

Annie wilts, her temper dissipating as suddenly as it appeared. I'm sorry for snapping, she says to us. Thank you for your help.

They accept her apology, and in the exchange of introductions, I learn her last name is Carter. She and Bill talk much too long during the introductions, and I give him a 'back off' look. Once Bill, Steve, and another of my coworkers finally go back about their business, I carefully approach her.

Are you okay? I quietly ask her, concerned and making an effort not to touch her.

I just want to sit down. I'm a little rattled, she answers. She takes a seat at the back table I'd recently vacated. I changed my mind about the drink. I just want some coffee. She holds her head in her hand as I flag down the waitress.

We sit quietly for a few minutes before our waitress Marie brings Annie her coffee and me a fresh beer. I silently wonder if I've had a few more than normal, but I don't worry too much about it.

What if no one had been around? Annie asks the table.

I answer for it. Someone would've been around, I tell her and hope I sound reassuring. All you have to do is ask for help. Sometimes you don't even have to do that.

"But it's what he represents, she tries to explain. I apparently cannot take care of myself." She wears an expression like she's really beating herself up.

I think you're being too hard on yourself. And sure you can take care of yourself, I say. She looks like she's about to start up again, so I quickly interject, Listen. Don't let that asshole ruin your whole night.

Maybe I should go back home.

What? No. So you can sit and watch bad television all evening? I quickly ask, remembering what she'd been doing when I called her earlier. I just got her here, and I really don't want her to leave.

At least watching bad television doesn't get me pawed to death, she points out and puts her coffee mug down. Her stunning profile is lit up from the lights behind her while she looks over at the door.

I have to do something to make her put on the brakes.

But, I'd miss you if you go back home, I say with a mild pout. I know what I said probably surprises her a little, and that's what I'm going for. That's my game: women want a guy that, among other things, calls the next day and acts like seeing her again is the best part of his day. So what if it actually is true that seeing her tonight is the highlight of my day so far? It only makes my act more real.

"But, you'll see me